The School of Visual Arts’ Computer Art Department showcases the best students’ work in its website and I have to say there’s a lot of good stuff! You can find 2D and 3D computer animation work, as well as motion graphics and visual effects; all amazing, full of creativity and beautifully executed.
In our day and age, most people overlook the fact that computer art is in fact done by artists, not computers; that the hardware and software utilized to create engaging visual experiences are simply tools to enable artists to execute their visions. Most often, digital artists are considered mere technicians which, in my opinion, is unfair and inaccurate. Mastering specific software or being able to program complex applications to achieve artistic expression constitute the technical aspect of a digital artist’s craft, as knowing how to properly use chisel and mallet to transform a piece of stone constitutes the technical aspect if an sculptor’s craft.
Every art form has evolved from a fairly simple human activity, constrained and often shaped by the available tools which in most cases have had previous practical applications. The tools we have developed over the centuries have enabled us to expand the range of possibilities for human expression and, without a doubt, the introduction of computers has expanded that range even more. Technology should not be exclusively associated with the applied sciences but with both, the sciences and the arts.
Anyway… that was me thinking out loud. Just stop by the SVA website, you’ll be amazed.
The image above is a screenshot from the short film Catenaccio by Gilad Kenan, one of my favorites in the site. I love how the artist introduces elements that can be familiar to anyone and the amount of detail put into the piece (the cat’s pupils actually dilate and shrink according to the amount of light). On a side note, I particularly enjoyed the fact that I immediately identified myself with the character. It’s pretty funny, but it seems we share some things in common: love for cats and soccer, a thing for toys, Macs in our desks and apartments that look way too similar including some Ikea furniture in the living room!